Work Stoppages

Major Work Stoppages (Annual) News Release

For release 10:00 a.m. (EST) Thursday, February 9, 2017 USDL-17-0180
Technical information: (202) 691-6199 workstoppagesinfo@bls.gov http://www.bls.gov/wsp
Media contact: (202) 691-5902 pressoffice@bls.gov
MAJOR WORK STOPPAGES IN 2016
In 2016, there were 15 major work stoppages involving 99,000 workers, the U.S. Bureau of Labor
Statistics reported today. (See table 1.) Private industry organizations accounted for over 94
percent of the 1.54 million total days idle for major work stoppages in effect during 2016.
This year marks 70 years of work stoppages data collected by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Over the past four decades (1977-1986 to 2007-2016) major work stoppages declined approximately 90
percent. (See table A and table 1.) The period from 2007 to 2016 was the lowest decade on record, averaging
approximately 14 major work stoppages per year. The lowest annual number of major work stoppages
was 5 in 2009.
In 2016, the information industry had the largest number of workers involved in major work stoppages
with 38,200. Educational services were the next largest industry with 33,600 followed by health care
and social assistance with 12,100 workers. These three industries accounted for over
84 percent of workers idled for major work stoppages.
In 2016, the largest major work stoppage in terms of number of workers and days idle was between
Verizon Communications and the Communication Workers of America union involving 36,500 workers. This
work stoppage accounted for 1,204,500 total days idle. The second largest work stoppage in 2016 in
days idle was between Allina Health and the Minnesota Nurses Association/National Nurses United union,
involving 4,800 workers with 153,600 days idle from two different work stoppages that occurred during
2016. The City of Chicago Public Schools had a 1-day stoppage with the second most number of workers,
involving 27,000 employees.
Table A. Total number of major work stoppages by decade, 1947 to 2016
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Years: 1947-1956 1957-1966 1967-1976 1977-1986 1987-1996 1997-2006 2007-2016
Number: 3,438 2,500 3,321 1,446 404 240 143
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TECHNICAL NOTE
The major work stoppages series dates back to 1947. The term “major work stoppage” includes both
worker-initiated strikes and employer-initiated lockouts that involve 1,000 workers or more and
lasting at least one shift. BLS does not distinguish between lockouts and strikes in this
publication.
Information on work stoppages is obtained from reports from the Federal Mediation and Conciliation
Service, state labor market information offices, BLS Strike Report from the Office of Employment
and Unemployment Statistics, and from media sources. One or both parties involved in the work
stoppage (employer or union) is contacted to verify the duration and number of workers idled by the
stoppage.
Days idle are calculated by multiplying the number of workers involved in the strike or lockout by
the number of days workers are off the job. The number of lost workdays for every major work stoppage
is based on a 5-day workweek (Monday through Friday), excluding federal holidays.
Monthly major work stoppages data
The Bureau of Labor Statistics compiles detailed monthly statistics on major work stoppages at
www.bls.gov/wsp.
Monthly time series data since 1981 have been published (https://data.bls.gov/cgi-bin/surveymost?ws)
for the following series:
* Number of work stoppages involving 1,000 workers or more beginning in the period
* Number of work stoppages involving 1,000 workers or more in effect in the period
* Number of workers involved in work stoppages beginning in the period
* Number of workers involved in work stoppages in effect in the period
* Days of idleness resulting from work stoppages in effect in the period
* Days of idleness resulting from work stoppages in effect in the period, as a percent of
estimated working time
Detailed historical data
Detailed data for each major work stoppage since 1993 are available at
www.bls.gov/wsp/monthly_listing.htm. The major work stoppages historical data file includes the
organization involved, location, beginning and ending work stoppage dates, the number of workers,
and total days idle.
More information
For more information on Work Stoppages methods and measures, see “Chapter 8. National Compensation
Measures” of the BLS Handbook of Methods at: www.bls.gov/opub/hom/pdf/homch8.pdf.